Teams coming off a losing season often have no choice but to spend money on top free agents, especially if the goal is to return to relevancy right away. It worked out for the Patriots, but teams in similar situations need savvy decision-makers who don\u2019t spend just to spend.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that in mind, here are the eight teams that improved the most after the first wave of free agency as we head into draft season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
8. New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n
Notable additions: G David Edwards, LB Kaden Elliss, RB Travis Etienne Jr., TE Noah Fant\u00a0<\/p>\n
It must be strange for Saints fans to see a healthy salary cap and a younger roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For years, the team put off paying the tab on the salary cap mess it created for itself, missing the postseason for five consecutive seasons with veteran-heavy rosters. However, the team recently said goodbye to longtime linebacker Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan remains unsigned. Now, there are rumors that running back Alvin Kamara could be traded after the signing of Etienne.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not only did the Saints get younger, gain talent, and fill needs, but there also seems to finally be a plan for this organization to head in the right direction after five years of mostly negative results.<\/p>\n
7. Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n
Notable additions: CB Dee Alford, edge Bradley Chubb, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, WR DJ Moore<\/p>\n
The Bills got risky with paying older players plenty of guaranteed money. Still, they addressed most of their needs and now have a formidable Super Bowl roster, one that doesn\u2019t need Josh Allen to be Superman every week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Buffalo committing guaranteed money to Moore for multiple seasons was certainly a gamble, but paying for the extra year will be O.K. if Moore continues to make clutch plays, as he did for Caleb Williams down the stretch last season in Chicago. Allen needed more playmakers who can step up when it matters most\u2014let\u2019s not forget that he threw the most important pass of last season to a 32-year-old Brandin Cooks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to justify the three-year, $43.5 million contract the team handed Chubb, but this move could look a lot better if the Bills land a top edge rusher in the draft to form a stout rotation.<\/p>\n
6. Carolina Panthers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: C Luke Fortner, LB Devin Lloyd, edge Jaelan Phillips, OT Rasheed Walker\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no doubt that the Panthers got better with the splash moves they made on defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were defensive improvements last season, but the unit was still near the bottom in stopping the run and rushing the passer. Lloyd\u2019s presence will likely help the team improve in both areas based on what he did for the Jaguars last season as a second-team All-Pro. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero now also has a top edge rusher in Phillips to call more aggressive plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers responded well to the hits they took on the offensive line, including the departure of center Cade Mays and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who sustained a significant knee injury in the playoffs. It wouldn\u2019t be a stretch to say that Walker can match the production the team got from Ekwonu last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
5. Washington Commanders<\/p>\n
Notable additions: WR Dyami Brown, edge K\u2019Lavon Chaisson, LB Leo Chenal, S Nick Cross, RB Jerome Ford, TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, edge Odafe Oweh, CB Amik Robertson, DT Tim Settle Jr., RB Rachaad White<\/p>\n
GM Adam Peters moved away from trading for veteran players and returned to betting on underrated players, which he did in his first season in Washington before the team made a surprise run to the NFC title game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a given that Oweh will continue to do what he did for the Chargers over two dominant months after being traded by the Ravens, but coach Dan Quinn has a track record of getting the most from pass rushers. Still, it wouldn\u2019t be a bad idea for the Commanders to draft an edge rusher in the first round, even after adding Oweh and Chaisson.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This could be a vastly improved defense with new playmakers in all three phases.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01km13qbwhsfwj3ecfza.jpg\" "\\"Michael")
<\/p>\n
Michael Pittman Jr. joins a revamped Steelers squad helmed by Mike McCarthy. | Travis Register-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
4. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: S Jaquan Brisker, CB Jamel Dean, RB Rico Dowdle, WR Michael Pittman Jr.<\/p>\n
The Steelers have concerns at quarterback, but it seems they\u2019re expecting Aaron Rodgers to return for his age-43 season and his second with the team.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh likely doesn\u2019t trade for Pittman and splurge for Dean without some kind of reassurance from Rodgers. Clearly, the Steelers want to win now rather than head into a rebuild in their first season without coach Mike Tomlin, who stepped down this offseason after 19 years with the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Rodgers returns, this offense could get a boost from the arrivals of Pittman and Dowdle, and new coach Mike McCarthy has a reputation for producing prolific offenses. And don\u2019t overlook the addition of Brisker, who gives the defense a versatile playmaker, something it didn\u2019t have a year ago.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
3. Tennessee Titans\u00a0<\/p>\n
Notable additions: TE Daniel Bellinger, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Cor\u2019Dale Flott, DL John Franklin-Myers, edge Jermaine Johnson II, LB Jacob Martin, WR Wan\u2019Dale Robinson, C Austin Schlottmann, CB Alontae Taylor, DT Solomon Thomas<\/p>\n
There was nowhere to go but up after a disastrous past few seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two years ago, the Titans were big spenders in free agency and still ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, which they used on quarterback Cam Ward. However, it\u2019s hard to doubt this latest spending frenzy, given that new coach Robert Saleh has a track record of building formidable defenses and has reunited with many of his reliable players from previous stops.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On offense, Ward got an intriguing playmaker in Robinson, who\u2019s coming off a breakout 2025 season with the Giants. The arrow is finally pointing up in Tennessee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2. San Francisco 49ers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: WR Mike Evans, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Nate Hobbs, OT Vederian Lowe, DT Osa Odighizuwa, G Brett Toth<\/p>\n
The 49ers overachieved last season despite an inexperienced defense and a roster gutted by injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n